IGNORING MY MOTHER

Me: “Hey Dad, I have some great news! Jeff and I have decided to get married. We are engaged!”

Father: “That’s wonderful news! Your mother and I are so happy for you!”

Mother: “Please call me, honey. I’m excited to hear the details.”

Me: “I just wanted to thank you, Dad, for all you’ve given me throughout these years. You’ve helped mold me into the woman I am today; you’ve been a great role model for me. I love you.”

Father: “I love you too.”

Me: “Dad, can I call you tomorrow to discuss the details of the wedding?”

Father: “Sure, but don’t forget about your mom. You have a mother too, you know. Why don’t you call her? She would love to hear from you.”

Me: “I know I have a mother, but I’m not supposed to communicate with her …”

If this email seems strange to you, you’re right. It is ridiculous to think that if I had something to share, that I would only tell my Dad. It is ridiculous to think that if I was grateful for the things my parents have both given me, that I would only thank my Dad. It is ridiculous to think that if I loved my parents, I would only tell my Dad, “I love you.” Yet, the new Gospel Topics essay on Mother in Heaven, recently released by the Church, says this is how we are to treat our Mother in Heaven. Furthermore, it is “a divine pattern established for us as children of heavenly parents.” That is, it’s a divine pattern established for us to not communicate with our mothers. President Gordon B. Hinckley said,

“The fact that we do not pray to our Mother in Heaven in no way belittles or denigrates her.”

I know my mom would be pretty upset if I ignored her. Would yours? I look forward to the eternities where I am not belittled or denigrated by my children not talking to me.

6 Comments

Loved this Cathy! I prefer talking to my mom in heaven, we like to talk about girl things, she can relate with my warrior princess heart more. So maybe Hinckley was thinking, well we have anywhere from 2 to 1000+ mom's in heaven that father is polygomously married so how do we know which one to pray to. Jennifer Taylor 🙂

Is it possible that the language quoted below from the essay is descriptive and not proscriptive? The role of a General Authority is to speak generally, not to individuals. We as individuals, listen to counsel from the Spirit individually and are accountable for our decisions about our own adaptations.

Latter-day Saints direct their worship to Heavenly Father, in the name of Christ, and do not pray to Heavenly Mother. In this, they follow the pattern set by Jesus Christ, who taught His disciples to “always pray unto the Father in my name.”11 Latter-day Saints are taught to pray to Heavenly Father, but as President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “The fact that we do not pray to our Mother in Heaven in no way belittles or denigrates her.”12

Beautifully stated, and to the point! You are right! I would be upset if I was ignored by my children. I'd also be upset if my daughters were ignored by their children, and I know that their father would feel the same. With that in mind, I can't help but think that this doesn't set well with our Heavenly Father either.

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